Vet Centers (Readjustment Counseling Service)

Vet Centers are community-based counseling centers that provide a wide range of readjustment services to eligible veterans, active duty service members (including members of the National Guard and Reserve), and their families. They are operated by the VA's Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS).

There are over 300 Vet Center locations nationwide, plus mobile Vet Centers that travel to underserved areas and community events. Vet Centers are deliberately located in community settings, separate from VA Medical Centers, to provide a more accessible and less institutional environment.

Vet Centers were first established in 1979 to help Vietnam veterans readjust to civilian life. Today they serve veterans from all eras of military service.

Vet Centers provide a broad range of services, including:

• Individual counseling — One-on-one sessions with professional counselors
• Group counseling — Peer-based group therapy sessions
• Family counseling — Support for family members affected by a veteran's readjustment
• Bereavement counseling — For families who have lost a service member
• PTSD treatment — Evidence-based therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder
• Military sexual trauma (MST) counseling — Specialized support for survivors of MST
• Employment assistance — Help with job readiness, resume writing, and interview preparation
• Substance abuse assessment and referral — Screening and connection to treatment programs
• VA benefits referral — Help understanding and connecting with other VA services

You may be eligible for Vet Center services if you are:

• A combat veteran of any era (served in a combat zone or area of hostility)
• A drone crew member who provided direct support to combat operations
• A veteran who experienced military sexual trauma (MST)
• A veteran who served in mortuary affairs or handled human remains
• A veteran who provided care to prisoners of war
• A veteran who served on a humanitarian mission (such as disaster response)

Family members of eligible veterans and service members can also receive certain Vet Center services, particularly family counseling and bereavement counseling.

Vet Centers offer several important advantages over other VA services:

• Walk-in friendly — No appointment necessary. You can show up and ask for help.
• No VA enrollment required — You do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use Vet Center services.
• No copay — All Vet Center services are completely free.
• Confidential — Vet Center records are kept separate from VA medical records. Your information stays at the Vet Center.
• Community-based — Located in neighborhoods, not on VA medical campuses, for easier access and a less clinical feel.
• Flexible hours — Many Vet Centers offer evening and weekend hours to accommodate work schedules.

You can find your nearest Vet Center using the VA's online locator tool. Simply enter your ZIP code or city and state to see nearby locations. You can also call the Vet Center Call Center at 1-877-WAR-VETS (1-877-927-8387) — this line is staffed 24/7 by combat veterans.

Mobile Vet Centers also travel to communities that are far from a brick-and-mortar location. Check the VA locator or call ahead to find out if a mobile Vet Center visits your area.

• Not a substitute for emergency care. If you are in crisis, call 988 (then press 1 for the Veterans Crisis Line) or go to your nearest emergency room. Vet Centers provide counseling, not emergency psychiatric or medical care.
• Different from VA Medical Centers. Vet Centers are separate facilities from VA hospitals and clinics. They focus on readjustment counseling, not comprehensive medical treatment. If you need medical care, a Vet Center can help refer you to the right VA facility.
• Eligibility is specific. Not all veterans qualify for Vet Center services. Eligibility is generally based on combat service, MST, or certain other qualifying experiences — not simply veteran status. If you are unsure whether you qualify, call or visit a Vet Center and they will help you determine eligibility.

• VA Vet Center Locator ↗
• Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) ↗
• VA Mental Health Services ↗